A Bitesize guide to business structure. Our experts talk you through start-ups, limited companies, business plans and more.

Business structures

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Meet our experts

Lord Sugar

Lord Sugar has an estimated worth of £730 million and is the star of the BBC's hit series 'The Apprentice'. Lord Sugar holds two honorary Doctorates of Science degrees, awarded by City University and Brunel University.

Deborah Meaden

Deborah Meaden has enjoyed success with many businesses in the leisure and retail sector and is also the star of the BBC's 'Dragon's Den'. Deborah has made offers of investment of £1,365,000 in 21 separate businesses during her first five series of 'Dragon's Den'.

Saira Khan

Saira Khan was a finalist on 'The Apprentice' in 2005. She now presents CBBC's 'Beat the Boss' and has founded the skincare company 'Miamoo'.

Hugh Pym

Hugh Pym is the BBC's Chief Economics Correspondent. Hugh reports on business, economic and political issues. He has previously worked for ITV, Channel 4 and Sky.

Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace works as an Associate Product Marketing Manager at Google in London. Google was set up in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin and is now one of web's most visited sites. In 2008, Google topped BrandZ's list of the most powerful brands in the world.

Nicola Vane

Nicola Vane founded 'The Funky Fone Sox Company' in 2003 when she was just 14 years old. Nicola believes the company was the first in the UK to start selling phone sock covers.

Dr Paul Thomas

Dr Paul Thomas appeared on the first series of 'Dragon's Den' in 2005 to pitch for investment in a truffle-growing company. His company, 'Mycorrhizal Systems', now has a global network of client-partner truffle plantations in Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

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